WiFi Management Interface for Microwave Radio and Reset to Factory Defaults

ABSTRACT

WIFI management interfaces for microwave radio and reset to factory defaults are provided herein. Methods may include transmitting or receiving, on a dedicated management interface antenna of the wireless radio management signals, signals in a dedicated band for controlling operations of the wireless radio, and transmitting or receiving, on at least one additional antenna of the wireless radio management signals, signals that are not used for controlling operations of the wireless radio. The dedicated management interface antenna and the at least one additional antenna being physically separated from one another.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/766,667, filed on Feb. 19, 2013, titled “WIFIMANAGEMENT INTERFACE FOR MICROWAVE RADIO AND RESET TO FACTORY DEFAULTS”,which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entiretyincluding all references cited therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present technology may be generally described as providing a WiFiManagement Interface for Microwave Radio and Reset to Factory Defaults.

BACKGROUND

Resetting of microwave radio devices often requires direct access tophysical ports (e.g., Ethernet or craft) ports of a radio.Unfortunately, these devices are often installed on towers, which makephysical access difficult.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, the present technology may be directed to awireless radio, comprising: (a) at least one antenna for transmitting orreceiving signals, the at least one antenna using a first interface; and(b) a dedicated management interface antenna providing a wirelessinterface that is used to manage and configured the wireless radio.

In some embodiments, the present technology may be directed to a methodfor controlling a wireless radio. The wireless radio comprises aprocessor and a memory for storing executable instructions. Theprocessor executes the instructions to perform the method, comprising:(a) transmitting or receiving, on a dedicated management interfaceantenna of the wireless radio management signals, signals in a dedicatedband for controlling operations of the wireless radio; and (b)transmitting or receiving, on at least one additional antenna of thewireless radio management signals, signals that are not used forcontrolling operations of the wireless radio, wherein the dedicatedmanagement interface antenna and the at least one additional antenna arephysically separated from one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the present technology are illustrated by theaccompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are notnecessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understandingof the technology or that render other details difficult to perceive maybe omitted. It will be understood that the technology is not necessarilylimited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

FIG. 1A are front and rear perspective views of an exemplary enclosure;

FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary enclosure ofFIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary enclosure ofFIGS. 1A-B, shown from the rear;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary computing device that may be used toimplement embodiments according to the present technology;

FIGS. 3-6 are various exemplary management graphical user interfaces;and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for controlling a wirelessradio.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

While this technology is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail several specific embodiments with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the technology and is not intended to limit the technologyto the embodiments illustrated.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components,referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with likereference characters. It will be further understood that several of thefigures are merely schematic representations of the present technology.As such, some of the components may have been distorted from theiractual scale for pictorial clarity.

Generally speaking, the present technology contemplates adding a 2.4GHz/5 GHz WiFi radio to a microwave radio operating in a separate band,which provides a simple means for a technician to configure and managethe microwave radio when onsite. Prior approaches have involved anelectrical connection to the microwave radio through either Ethernet ora “craft port” (typically RS-232). Benefits of the WiFi approach areconvenience (using cell phone instead of a wired laptop connection) andthe ability to reset the radio to factory defaults without requiring alocal or remote reset button.

A technician can reset a microwave radio to factory defaults by usingthe 2.4 GHz wireless interface. The process involves disconnecting theEthernet interface from the network and power cycling the radio. Uponpowering up the device, the 2.4 GHz interface starts up in a “reset”configuration with a specific reset SSID. The interface is shutdownafter a set time interval unless the client associates. The presenttechnology allows a technician to easily reset and reconfigure awireless radio when, for example, the technician has forgotten apassword for the wireless radio. Often times these radios are placed inlocations where access to the radio is difficult or dangerous. The useof a dedicated antenna and band, as well as management interfaces allowfor efficient resetting and reconfiguring of a wireless radio.

It will be understood that in some instances, the SSID may include anSSID that includes special characters such as letters or numbers thatsignify that the device is in a recovery mode, for example, “RESET” or“RECOVER”, although other characters may also be utilized. Knowing theSSID, the technician may access the device's configurations via themanagement interface via entering a unique device identifier, which maycorrespond to the serial number of the radio. Thus, with the recoverySSID and the unique device identifier (or other authenticationcredentials), the technician may reconfigure the settings of the radiovia the management interface (see FIG. 3).

These features allow for technicians to reset the settings of the radiodevice, such as when the IP address for the radio is lost or ifauthentication credentials for the radio device are lost. Such wirelessreconfiguration features allow for simplified commissioning anddecommissioning of devices without need for careful device configurationmaintenance.

FIGS. 1A-C collectively illustrate an exemplary device 100 that includesa WiFi management interface (FIG. 3) and utilizes a dedicated antenna150. It will be understood that while the management interface anddedicated antenna 150 have been described as being utilized with thedevice 100, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anysuitable radio antenna that is capable of being rest to factory defaultsettings may also likewise utilize the present technology.

While the present technology may be utilized in conjunction with thedevice of FIGS. 1A-C, it will be understood that the 2.4 Ghz/5 Ghzwireless interface configuration and management methods/systems providedherein may also likewise be utilized with other suitable devices orsystems, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art withthe present disclosure before them. Thus, FIGS. 1A-C and theiraccompanying descriptions are intended to be viewed as an example of adevice that can be configured using the present technology. Therefore,the description and figures of 1A-C should not be viewed as limiting thepresent technology in any specific manner unless specifically stated tobe limiting or claimed as limiting.

The device 100 may comprise a mounting bracket that allows the device100 to be pivotally coupled to a mounting surface, such as a tower (notshown). The ability of the device 100 to be pivotally connected to amounting surface allows for an azimuth angle to be established, as wouldbe known to one of ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosurebefore them.

The mounting bracket may couple with a back cover via a plurality offasteners. The device 100 also comprises a dish that is formed so as toinclude a rear cavity and a front cavity. A PCB assembly is disposed atleast partially within the rear cavity of the dish. A seal, such as agasket, may be disposed between the outer peripheral edge of the rearcavity and the back cover to sealingly protect the PCB assembly fromcontamination. The PCB assembly may also include a PCB heat spreader orother means for transferring heat generated by the PCB assembly to theambient environment such as fans and so forth.

In some instances, the dish may include a side lobe shield that extendsbeyond the outer peripheral edge of the dish. In some instances the sidelobe shield may include a shroud having a sidewall that forms a ringaround the outer peripheral edge of an upper surface of the dish.

Advantageously, the inner surface of the side lobe shield may beprovided with a metalized coating. The upper surface of the dish mayalso include a metalized coating. In some instances at least a portionof the inner surface of the side lobe shield may be augmented with ametallic coating and/or a microwave absorbing material, such as a foamor other electrically insulating material that is coated along the innersurface of the front cavity of the dish. The microwave absorbingmaterial is shown as being disposed within the front cavity, but mayalso be applied or sprayed to the inner surface of the side lobe shield.In other instances, the microwave absorbing material may be integratedinto the side lobe shield itself. An exemplary metalized coating of theupper surface of the dish and the inner sidewall of the side lobe shieldis illustrated in Photos A, B, and E, which are attached hereto.

Because the side lobe shield extends beyond the outer peripheral edge ofthe dish, the side lobe shield functions to direct the signals reflectedby the dish surface in a more uniform and directed pattern. For example,the side lobe shield may reduce side lobe radiation which is transmittedfrom and/or received by the device. Thus, the device 100 may reduce anamount of signals which are received by the device 100 that aretransmitted by adjacent transmitters. Also, the side lobe shield of thedevice 100 may also reduce an amount of microwave signals transmittedvia side lobe projection by the device. Thus, the device 100 reducesboth the transmission and reception of deleterious side lobe signals.

The device 100 may also comprise a wave guide that is communicativelycoupled with the PCB assembly. A cylindrical dielectric plate may couplewith the wave guide. Also, a reflector may be associated with thedielectric plate. The combination of the PCB assembly, wave guide,dielectric plate, and reflector may collectively be referred to as a“radio.” A radome cover attaches to the side lobe shield to sealinglycover the reflector, dielectric, and wave guide that are housed withinthe front cavity.

It will be understood that the radome, side lobe shield, dish, and backcover of the device 100 may be constructed from any suitable materialsuch as a plastic, a polymeric material, a resin, a composite material,a natural material, or any other material that would be known to one ofordinary skill in the art.

The dedicated antenna 150 provides for directional communication with atechnician, wirelessly. The dedicated antenna 150 may be pointedgenerally to a location of interaction, such as where a technician willbe typically located. For example, if the device 100 is on a tower, thededicated antenna 150 may point towards the base of the tower.Advantageously, the dedicated antenna 150 may be configured to minimizeinterference.

The dedicated antenna 150 may communicatively couple with and may becontrolled by the PCB assembly. The dedicated antenna 150 maycommunicate on a channel that is distinct from the channel used by theradio assembly of the device 100 to prevent interference with thebroadcast signals transmitted and received by the device 100. Statedotherwise, the dedicated antenna 150 may allow for wirelesscommunications over an out-of-bandwidth channel, which reduces signalinterference.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary computing device 200 that may be used toimplement an embodiment of the present technology. The computing device200 of FIG. 2 includes one or more processors 210 and memory 220. Thecomputing device 200 may be utilized to control one or more functionsvia the PCB assembly of device 100 of FIG. 1. In some instances, theprocessor 210 and memory 220 may be integrated into the PCB assembly.Exemplary functions executed by the processor 210 and stored in memory220 may include, but are not limited to transmission and/or receipt ofsignals, as well as signal processing commonly utilized with 2×2 (orgreater) multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) transceivers. Additionalfunctions include providing a management interface (GUI) that allowstechnicians to configure settings for the radio system. Additionally, aremote reset feature may also be programmed into the radio system.

The Main memory 220 stores, in part, instructions and data for executionby processor 210. Main memory 220 can store the executable code when thesystem 200 is in operation. The system 200 of FIG. 2 may further includea mass storage device 230, portable storage medium drive(s) 240, outputdevices 250, user input devices 360, a graphics display 270, and otherperipheral devices 280.

The components shown in FIG. 2 are depicted as being connected via asingle bus 290. The components may be connected through one or more datatransport means. Processor unit 210 and main memory 220 may be connectedvia a local microprocessor bus, and the mass storage device 230,peripheral device(s) 280, portable storage device 240, and graphicsdisplay 270 may be connected via one or more input/output (I/O) buses.

Mass storage device 230, which may be implemented with a magnetic diskdrive, an optical disk drive, and/or a solid-state drive is anon-volatile storage device for storing data and instructions for use byprocessor unit 210. Mass storage device 230 can store the systemsoftware for implementing embodiments of the present technology forpurposes of loading that software into main memory 220.

Portable storage device 240 operates in conjunction with a portablenon-volatile storage medium, such as a floppy disk, compact disk ordigital video disc, to input and output data and code to and from thecomputing device 200 of FIG. 2. The system software for implementingembodiments of the present technology may be stored on such a portablemedium and input to the computing device 200 via the portable storagedevice 240.

Input devices 360 provide a portion of a user interface. Input devices360 may include an alphanumeric keypad, such as a keyboard, forinputting alphanumeric and other information, or a pointing device, suchas a mouse, a trackball, stylus, or cursor direction keys. Additionally,the system 200 as shown in FIG. 2 includes output devices 250. Suitableoutput devices include speakers, printers, network interfaces, andmonitors.

Graphics display 270 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or othersuitable display device. Graphics display 270 receives textual andgraphical information, and processes the information for output to thedisplay device.

Peripherals 280 may include any type of computer support device to addadditional functionality to the computing device. Peripheral device(s)280 may include a modem or a router.

The components contained in the computing device 200 of FIG. 2 are thosetypically found in computing devices that may be suitable for use withembodiments of the present technology and are intended to represent abroad category of such computer components that are well known in theart. Thus, the computing device 200 of FIG. 2 can be a personalcomputer, hand held computing device, telephone, mobile computingdevice, workstation, server, minicomputer, mainframe computer, or anyother computing device. The computer can also include different busconfigurations, networked platforms, multi-processor platforms, etc.Various operating systems can be used including UNIX, Linux, Windows,Macintosh OS, Palm OS, and other suitable operating systems.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface in the form ofa login page that may be displayed on a mobile device, such as atablet-style computing device. FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary graphicaluser interface in the form of a management interface that allows atechnician to control and configure a radio device in accordance withthe present technology. FIGS. 5 and 6 are similar to FIGS. 3 and 4,respectively with the exception that FIGS. 5 and 6 are configured fordisplay on a mobile device, such as a cellular telephone.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for controlling a wirelessradio. In some embodiments, the method may include broadcasting 705 areset service set identifier (SSID) upon power up or reset. As mentionedabove, the SSID may include a set of characters that indicate to atechnician that the wireless radio has been reset.

In some embodiments the method may include closing 710 the dedicatedband if no client associates with the wireless radio within apredetermined period of time after transmitting SSID.

When a client couples with the radio on the dedicated band, the methodmay include receiving 715 a unique device identifier from a client thatis coupled to the wireless radio on the dedicated band. This uniquedevice identifier may be received via a management UI (e.g., login pageas described above.

The method may include authenticating 720 the client and receiving 725reconfiguration instructions for the wireless radio. Finally, the methodmay include reconfiguring 730 the wireless radio in accordance with thereconfiguration instructions.

Some of the above-described functions may be composed of instructionsthat are stored on storage media (e.g., computer-readable medium). Theinstructions may be retrieved and executed by the processor. Someexamples of storage media are memory devices, tapes, disks, and thelike. The instructions are operational when executed by the processor todirect the processor to operate in accord with the technology. Thoseskilled in the art are familiar with instructions, processor(s), andstorage media.

It is noteworthy that any hardware platform suitable for performing theprocessing described herein is suitable for use with the systems andmethods provided herein. Computer-readable storage media refer to anymedium or media that participate in providing instructions to a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a processor, a microcontroller, or the like. Suchmedia may take forms including, but not limited to, non-volatile andvolatile media such as optical or magnetic disks and dynamic memory,respectively. Common forms of computer-readable storage media include afloppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, any othermagnetic storage medium, a CD-ROM disk, digital video disk (DVD), anyother optical storage medium, RAM, PROM, EPROM, a FLASHEPROM, any othermemory chip or cartridge.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be coupled with the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Exemplaryembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the present technology and its practical application, andto enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand theinvention for various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

Aspects of the present invention are described above with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. The descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of thetechnology to the particular forms set forth herein. Thus, the breadthand scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of theabove-described exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that theabove description is illustrative and not restrictive. To the contrary,the present descriptions are intended to cover such alternatives,modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit andscope of the technology as defined by the appended claims and otherwiseappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of thetechnology should, therefore, be determined not with reference to theabove description, but instead should be determined with reference tothe appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless radio, comprising: at least oneantenna for transmitting or receiving signals, the at least one antennausing a first interface; and a dedicated management interface antennaproviding a wireless interface that is used to manage and configured thewireless radio.
 2. The wireless radio according to claim 1, wherein thededicated management interface antenna broadcasts management signals in2.4 or 5 GHz frequencies.
 3. The wireless radio according to claim 1,wherein the dedicated management interface antenna is directed towardsground level.
 4. A method for controlling a wireless radio, the wirelessradio comprising a processor and a memory for storing executableinstructions, the processor executing the instructions to perform themethod, comprising: transmitting or receiving, on a dedicated managementinterface antenna of the wireless radio management signals, signals in adedicated band for controlling operations of the wireless radio; andtransmitting or receiving, on at least one additional antenna of thewireless radio management signals, signals that are not used forcontrolling operations of the wireless radio, wherein the dedicatedmanagement interface antenna and the at least one additional antenna arephysically separated from one another.
 5. The method according to claim4, further comprising receiving a reset signal from a technician.
 6. Themethod according to claim 5, further comprising power cycling thewireless radio after receiving the reset signal.
 7. The method accordingto claim 4, wherein signals for controlling operations of the wirelessradio comprise a service set identifier (SSID).
 8. The method accordingto claim 7, wherein the SSID includes a set of characters that indicateto a technician that the wireless radio has been reset.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 7, further comprising closing the dedicated band ifno client associates with the wireless radio within a predeterminedperiod of time after transmitting SSID.
 10. The method according toclaim 4, further comprising receiving a unique device identifier from aclient that is coupled to the wireless radio on the dedicated band. 11.The method according to claim 10, wherein the unique device identifieris a serial number of the wireless radio.
 12. The method according toclaim 10, further comprising authenticating the client.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 12, further comprising receiving reconfigurationinstructions for the wireless radio.
 14. The method according to claim13, further comprising reconfiguring the wireless radio in accordancewith the reconfiguration instructions.
 15. The method according to claim14, wherein signals for controlling operations of the wireless radiocomprise a management user interface UI that is transmitted to theclient.
 16. The method according to claim 12, wherein thereconfiguration instructions are received via the management UI.
 17. Themethod according to claim 12, wherein signals for controlling operationsof the wireless radio comprise a decommissioning signal.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the dedicated management interface antennatransmits and receives management signals in 2.4 or 5 GHz frequencies.